San Francisco, from the City Flags series (N6) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This colorful lithograph, part of the "City Flags" series, is a trade card produced by Allen & Ginter in 1887 to advertise their brand of cigarettes. The card depicts the official city flag of San Francisco, featuring a central circular design of a golden eagle soaring above a ship and land, all enclosed within a banner that reads "City of San Francisco," and the Latin motto "Oro en Paz, Ferro en Guerra" meaning "Gold in Peace, Iron in War." The card is a fascinating glimpse into the marketing practices of the late 19th century, as well as offering a visual representation of San Francisco's civic identity at the time. The illustration uses the stipple technique and is a prime example of the Chromolithograph, a printing process popular in the late 19th century.